From the Mind of Jason Zandri

As Published in the Record Journal – Sunday July 4, 2010

Jason Zandri

The 4th of July means many things to many people across our great nation.

In Wallingford over the past couple of generations, it has meant making the trip to the west side of town to watch the fireworks display.

That almost didn’t happen this year as many of you already know.

The regular funding for the celebration was cut from the budget in early spring and not restored; the event, for all intents and purposes, was cancelled.

As I sit-down to start writing this week’s "FROM WALLINGFORD" it is late in the evening on June 30th. By the time you read this on Sunday morning the 4th many of us will have already enjoyed the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration that the residents saved by donating to the fundraising efforts from April and May.

I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy your show.

I am going to take this opportunity to remind our readers that each person has the chance to make a difference and that every person should try. The complete extent of an attempt to change something sometimes cannot be fully measured because you never can tell what the outcome can be or how someone a few times removed from the effort is affected.

I can guarantee you that if you do not make the attempt that nothing will happen.

The fireworks celebration was just one effort that was saved by the people – the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra July 4th Concert was also at risk of not taking place this year.

That event is scheduled for tonight, July 4th, at 7:30pm until 9:30pm on the front lawn of the Paul Mellon Arts Center (333 Christian Street) in Wallingford.

This is another opportunity to gather with your friends and neighbors for a "free" event (donations are accepted of course).

In a time where there’s "nothing to do" and "everything is expensive" these opportunities to enjoy community events become even more relevant.

As per the norm, nothing is really "free" as the money has to come from somewhere. In times past, it was often from the municipal budget which is tax funded.

As times become more difficult that cannot be so.

In those situations we should want to pull together, as we have, to save our traditions and to put a framework into place so that the efforts can continue into the future.

The people have come together but we have to stay together on this. Not just for saving these events but for shaping our town for the decades yet to come.

This is all a part of getting involved.

"I’m not from here originally" – that’s fine, you are now.

"I’m planning on moving in a few years" – in the meantime you do live here, you should be part of the efforts to keep the machine "well oiled". Perhaps it will rub off on you and you can take it to the new place you’ll call home.

"I’ve always felt I should get involved but I’ve always been busy" – if there’s nothing stopping you now there’s no time like the present.

Whether it’s the town, the school, your church, your neighborhood, what have you, what is needed is time, talent, and money. This does not all have to come from each individual – the sum of the parts will make the whole effort work.

It’s been said that life is not a spectator sport and that you have to be in it.

The same is true for making a municipality a real community.

Wallingford is still a community like that but it needs care and feeding.

Many of the senior champions of this effort over decades past are . . . well . . . senior.

New people need to step up and take the reins; they cannot keep doing it themselves into the future.

"Each person has the chance to make a difference and every person should try."

I challenge you to find your passion and "try."